For your Convenience, Here’s a Summary of the Three Purpose-Built Forestry Track Loaders on the Market
Cat 299D3 XE Land Management CTL
The purpose-built Cat 299D3 XE Land Management compact track loader delivers superior performance in demanding vegetation-management applications, such as mulching, brush cutting, vegetation control and mowing. Ensuring optimal performance when powering high-production hydromechanical attachments like mulching heads, this machine boasts a turbocharged 110-gross-hp Cat C3.8 engine that combines with a 40-gpm high-flow/high-pressure auxiliary hydraulic system, producing a hydraulic horsepower rating of 94 hp. To provide longer intervals of uninterrupted work, the 299D3 XE Land Management unit has a 58.1-gal fuel capacity, which is 80 percent larger than the tank on a standard 299D3 XE model and is sized to provide an estimated run time of up to 12 hours. For more info, visit cat.com.
JCB 325T Forestmaster
The JCB 325T Forestmaster was designed with forestry applications in mind, such as clearing or cutting wooded areas. The machine weighs 12,364 lbs with a rated operating capacity of 3,201 lbs at 35 percent of the tipping load. Equipped with a 74-hp JCB EcoMax engine requiring no DEF, no DPF and no aftertreatment, the 325T offers efficiency and productivity. The 325T features 20 percent more steel in one boom than in two booms on the conventional skid steer. The cab also offers 60 percent better visibility and is 33 percent larger than most traditional compact track loaders. The Forestmaster is best complemented with a JCB Forestry cutting head or brush grapple. For more info, visit jcb.com.
ASV RT-120 Forestry Posi-Track Loader
ASV Holdings Inc. offers the 120-hp RT-120 Forestry Posi-Track Loader. Unparalleled cooling capacity and a 3.8-liter, turbocharged diesel engine outputting 360 ft-lbs of torque make the RT-120F capable of using the largest attachments for mulching and brush cutting for long periods of time without bogging down or overheating. ASV optimized the 12,255-lb machine for forestry work with metal guarding against brush and debris. Plus, a full rear brush guard is available. A hydraulically driven, auto-reversing fan blows debris out of the engine compartment screens. The RT-120F incorporates level 2 FOPS protection and forestry spec ROPS/OPS for operator safety. The cab is also pressurized for a clean operator environment. For more info, visit asvi.com.
